Apollo enjoyed the sport of
discus throwing, especially with a youth named Hyacinth
or Hyacinthus, his dearest companion. There was no
rivalry; they tried for the farthest goal. Apollo's cast
swiftly sped beyond his aim and struck Hyacinth full in
the forehead. Apollo was horror struck to see the
terrible wound with blood gushing forth. As he caught the
dying youth in his arms, Hyacinth's head fell back. As
Apollo knelt beside his friend and wept for him, he
noticed the bloodstained grass turned green and a
wondrous flower bloomed, not like the hyacinth we call by
that name, but a deep purple lily-shaped flower. Apollo
inscribed the petals with two letters "ai"
meaning alas. Another version tells the story that
Hyacinth was killed in the same manner when playing this
sport with Zephyr, the west wind. There is also a story
that Zephyr purposefully killed Hyacinth in his jealous
anger at Apollo's preference to him.